Replace Toxic Managers with World Class Leaders
“Toxic,” that was the word used by Oliver Nyumbu of Caret to describe some managers as he talked through an employee engagement exemplar with Birmingham Forward business leaders on Tuesday 2 February at 11 Brindleyplace. “Seven out of 10 people voluntarily leaving their jobs, don’t leave their companies, they leave their line managers. This makes ineffective managers an expensive risk for many organisations.
“To stand out as a city of choice for business and professional services, Birmingham Forward businesses must turn out world class leaders. Leaders who are exceptional in the contribution they make and not just preoccupied with position or targets.
“That means they should take management as a given ie they’ve already provided the right environment for each of their team to generate exceptional results. They should now focus their energies on rallying their teams towards making a difference in a brighter future.”
Sharing what he’s learned on the subject, David Richardson from the exemplar Lloyds TSB Banking Group said, “Anyone at any level can display leadership. It’s not a case of waiting for the stripes to go on your shoulders.
Oliver added: “Coming out of recession, we need to focus on keeping people at all levels who may feel detached from their leaders because they’ve been either emotionally or physically absent for some time.”
Birmingham Forward board director Lynn Richards-Cole from Perkins Slade, who chaired the event, asked, “What should we do as we return to our offices?”
Oliver said, “Imagine everyone’s wearing a T-shirt saying ‘make me feel special today’ – and, remember leadership is a contact sport not a long distance relationship.”
David said, “To make all this happen, you don’t have to be obsessive but you must be passionate to make a true contribution. ‘Work/leisure blend’ is perhaps a more accurate expression than ‘work/life balance’. When you find work that you want to put your heart and soul into, work doesn’t feel like work anymore.”
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